A nine-year-old girl was taken to hospital for treatment on Sunday after being knocked down by a car on Douglas seafront.
At the time of going to press the girl’s injuries were not known.
The accident happened at around 4pm near to the Davison’s ice cream shop. Both the girl and the car driver were local to the island.
An arsonist set fire to an electricity junction box at Chester Street car park in Douglas overnight on Thursday/Friday last week.
It was on the ceiling on level six in front of the entrance leading to the staircase near the Strand Shopping Centre.
The offender broke its cover and inserted a cigarette lighter into it, which was then set on fire.
Police this morning asked for the public’s help in solving the crime.
Constable Greg Gronkowski said: ‘Fortunately the fire didn’t spread any further and did not cause any serious damage to property but it could have been very serious and potentially endangered the whole building and people therein.’
Anyone with any information should contact Constable Gronkowski at police headquarters on 631212 or via grzegorz.gronkowski@gov.im. Alternatively, people can give their information anonymously via crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.
A charity box has been stolen from a Douglas shop during a break-in.
It happened at Jaime’s Kitchen café on Prospect Hill, Douglas, on Saturday, April 2, or the next day. Police released details about it for the first time today.
The front door was forced causing damage to the locking mechanism.
A yellow cyclindrical RNLI charity box from the front counter.
Constable Greg Gronkowski said: ‘The item they have stolen is a box containing donations from members of the public to a very worthwhile charity, which provides a service which is essential for us here on the island.
‘I urge anyone who may have any information in relation to this or may have located the missing charity box to contact me at Police Headquarters or give their information anonymously via Crimestoppers.’
Anyone with any information should contact Constable Gronkowski at police headquarters on 631212 or via grzegorz.gronkowski@gov.im.
Alternatively, people can give their information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Manx government is to spend £25,000 fighting the Zika virus in El Salvador.
The International Development Committee grant will support the work of global children’s charity Plan International in providing prevention kits, cleaning kits and providing information and advice on how to prevent the spread of {http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36020165|Zika} to the most vulnerable families.
El Salvador is one of the worst affected countries in Central and South America.
About 9,500 cases have been confirmed in the country, which has a population of six million.
New cases are confirmed on a weekly basis.
A Manx government spokesman said: ‘Fighting the spread of Zika is crucial. As many as four million people could be affected by Zika, according to an expert at the World Health Organisation,
‘The virus is having a worrying impact on families in El Salvador. The country has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Central and South America, while 40 per cent of pregnancies in the region are unintended.’
Pregnancy loss and other problems among babies have been linked to infects during pregnancy.
Rodrigo Bustos, country director in Plan El Salvador, said: ‘Unfortunately, Zika is exacerbating existing social inequalities in El Salvador. It is hitting communities where young women and girls have limited access to quality housing, sanitation, health services and information.
‘This grant will not only provide communities and families with prevention information, but much needed equipment such as mosquito nets, thiamine repellent and water storage containers to deter mosquitos.’
Plan is also working with the Ministry of Health in El Salvador on a national campaign which promotes the use of young fish in water sources which feed on mosquito larvae.
The chair of the Isle of Man Government’s International Development Committee, Phil Gawne MHK, said: ‘The Isle of Man is committed to playing its part in assisting some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Plan is performing a vital role on the ground in El Salvador and the funding provided by the Isle of Man will help the charity to support those most at risk of contracting Zika.’
Plan has so far supported more than 30,000 families with mosquito prevention kits and has taught almost 20,000 children about Zika transmission, symptoms and prevention.
Plan also supports the call for greater investment in research and development to gain a better understanding of the links between the Zika virus and other conditions and to develop medicines and vaccines.
{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zika_virus|To read more about Zika click here.}
A 17-year-old learner driver took an unscheduled excursion in a motor home belonging to his friend’s grandmother, despite having no insurance, Douglas magistrates were told.
Marcus William Simpson of Mountain Road, Douglas, drove the vehicle around land at the back of the TT Grandstand in Noble’s Park but witnesses were so concerned at his performance behind the wheel they called the police.
Hazel Carroon, for the prosecution, told the court the motorhome was seen by witnesses wheel-spinning and driving around while a large group of youths were running and cycling nearby.
The witnesses were so concerned about a possible accident they had contacted police.
When police showed up, the motor home, a Mercedes, was parked again near to the BMX track and several youths left the area as they approached.
Ms Carroon said it was clear the motor home had been driven recently, not least because there was wet mud still clinging to its bodywork.
Questioned by police, Simpson accepted he had driven the van. He said he had had a provisional licence for six weeks and had taken two driving lessons. He admitted having no insurance but added he thought it was unnecessary as it was private land.
He admitted charges of careless driving and having no insurance on October 10.
Defending him, advocate Peter Taylor said his client had a clean provisional licence and no previous convictions.
He said the defendant’s friend had keys to the motor home because his grandmother allowed him to use it to store bicycles at the park. He was given permission to drive it by his friend who told him they wanted to move it.
‘He thought he did not need insurance because it was private land. It was a naive assumption because it is a public place,’ he said.
He pointed out there was no accident and no damage caused and the vehicle was already at a standstill when police arrived.
‘So while the driving was not of the highest standard, it was not of the lowest either,’ he said.
‘It was a childish prank, getting a bit of excitment driving the vehicle around the car park.’
Magistrates’ chairman Gill Eaton said: ‘We considerthis quite a serious offence.’
He was fined a total of £400, banned from driving for three months and must pay costs of £50. His licence was also endorsed. The fine was reduced because of his age.
Leading offshore law firm DQ Advocates is once again delighted to be the principal sponsor of the Douglas Choral Union and its next show Jesus Christ Superstar at the Gaiety Theatre, Douglas.
This iconic rock opera, first staged on Broadway, was a smash hit in London in the early 1970s and became, by 1980, the longest running musical in West End history at the time.
It has been delighting audiences around the world ever since.
In its seven-year association with this group, DQ has never failed to be impressed by the talent, dedication and professionalism of all the cast and crew.
A spokesman said: ‘We are thrilled that the DCU are bringing us this extraordinary show, which is as compelling now as it was 40 years ago.’
Superstar tells the universally known story of the last seven days of the life of Jesus, told through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.
The world famous score contains some of musical theatre’s most legendary songs from Everything’s Alright, I Don’t Know How To Love Him, Gethsemane through of course to Superstar.
DQ’s sponsorship of the DCU is part of its wider commitment to a variety of sporting, cultural and charitable causes.
DQ considers it vital to the continuation and growth of the island’s cultural, sporting and charitable ventures that local businesses play their part in supporting the multitude of organisations working to maintain and improve the quality of life and breadth of opportunity here in the Isle of Man.
The spokesman added: ‘A smash hit, iconic West End show with a cast list brimming with talent – this is another sure fire hit for the DCU. Best of luck to all the cast and crew and “break a leg everyone!” ’
The show is running from this Friday until April 23.
One public servant pocketed a cash lump sum on early retirement of more than £650,000 last year – while the biggest pension taken was £80,000 a year.
These figures were revealed in an Examiner access to government information request ahead of a Tynwald debate on proposals to reform public sector pensions.
The figures from the Public Sector Pensions Authority show a total of 144 public servants took early retirement in 2015-16.
Of these, 94 were active members of the public sector pension schemes and 50 were those who had previously left government employment with a preserved pension.
The total annual pension claimed before normal retirement age was £1,259,405 but the average was £8,745. Total lump sum claimed was £8,895,781 and the average lump sum was £61,776.
But the highest pension taken was £80,000 per annum and the largest cash lump sum was £653,196.
A similar access to information request last year revealed there were 166 early retirements in 2014-15.
The highest annual pension was £49,044 and the biggest lump sum was £420,375.
Proposed reforms to go before Tynwald next week will see members of the unified pension scheme contribute an extra 2.5 per cent of their pay while benefits will reduce by 1.8 per cent. But the proposals will do little to address the spiralling deficit relating to members who have already retired.
Peel charity shop, on the town’s promenade, has donated a total of £28,000 to several island charities.
On Friday the shop held a coffee ymorning and donations event to celebrate its 15th anniversary at the Corrin Hall in Peel where the cheques were handed over to representatives from the individual charities.
During the event, the charity shop gave £2,000 to 14 different charities.
A spokesman for shop said: ‘We donated £2,000 to each of 14 charities, as well as supporting seven other charities, some with small and some with large donations.
‘Two thousand pounds went to the Steam and Model Railway Engineering club, towards a wheelchair friendly carriage on the Orchard line at the Wildlife Park.
Other charities which received £2,000 were, Friends of Robert Owen House, the Isle of Man branch of the Alzheimer’s Society, the Manx Deaf Society, the Manx Stroke Foundation, Peel Western Anti-Cancer Association, Special Olympics, Victim Support, Western Live at Home Scheme, Graih Limited, Princess Diana Care at Home Trust, Lions Club Isle of Man, Peel Coal Fund, Women’s Aid and SSAFA, the armed forces charity.’
One off donations were also made to Southern Befrienders, Disability Networks, Barregarrow Chapel and Manx Eating Disorders.
Yearly donations were made to Peel Carnival and Friends of Chernobyl Children.
The shop collects and sells donated goods of all kinds. Outside events are also held regularly to increase fundraising and sales when donations are made to chosen recipients.
Its aim is to raise funds for distribution to mainly Isle of Man charities and associations.
The cheque presentation is held annually and all service is voluntary.
You can donate goods for re-selling by bringing them to the shop between 10am and 4pm on Monday to Saturday.
To make a cash donation contact the Peel Charity Shop secretary, on 843877 or by post, via The Peel Charity Shop, 1-2 Castle Court, Promenade, Peel, IM5 1AH.
To request inclusion on the list of charities supported, write to the secretary.
The official opening of Castletown’s newly repaved square on April 23 will feature a band.
Clerk Hugo Mackenzie asked if commissioners wanted a band at the ceremony, which starts at 2pm, followed by the reopening of the Civic Centre at 3pm.
Kevin Weir said: ‘If we are having an event, let’s put something on, we need to give people something.’
Colin Leather said as the event is so close, they should have more firm details from the regeneration committee (as they are involved in the opening as the repaving is their scheme).
Andrew Thomas said: ‘We need to ignore regeneration and carry on.’
Mr Weir proposed they hire a band.
Mr Leather said he will enquire about a carousel for younger children.
Mr Mackenzie added he ís in discussions about how to make it ‘as easy as possible’ for people to use the square for events.
The refurbishment work made the square a more flexible space, a wider area can be used for events and less for parking when required. Mr Mackenzie is looking at how to avoid the current process, which involves expensive and time consuming road closure orders.
Chairman Alwyn Collister warned the authority is clamping down on those parking illegally and there are staff members with the power to issue penalties. He said: ‘We want to educate people.’
Mr Collister added new paving blemished with car engine oil spills will be ‘cleaned of oil and sealed’.
A tea dance will be held in the Corrin Hall in Peel on Saturday at 2pm.
Tickets priced £5 are available by calling Tricia Craig on 843439, or pay at the door.
All funds raised will go to Peel Mothers’ Union to help in their support of baptisms at St German’s Cathedral.
Tynwald next week will be ask to approve the appointment of a private partner to promote the TT.
If approved, Vision Nine will be promoter of the TT and Classic TT for a period of up to 10 years with an option to extend the contract for a further five years.
Under the Department of Economic Development’s plan, Vision Nine will take on more than £2m of the department’s annual costs to run the events and provide £2.5m of investment into the events.
In return, it will share the resulting net income in the proportion of 80/20 Vision Nine/DED.
Currently the events are operated by DED at a net cost of more than £2m, so Vision Nine can only achieve a profit if it delivers substantial growth in the events’ contribution to the island’s economy and government income.
Currently the events are break even for government due to the taxes they generate for Treasury and as a result, they make a substantial economic contribution at no net cost to the taxpayer, it is argued.
Vision Nine have ambitious growth targets that would see spectator numbers exceed 85,000 by year 10 of its contract – the current figure is about 60,000. If achieved, this would generate in excess of £69m economic benefit and government income of £12m per year while Vision Nine would generate annual profit of £5m by 2026.
Regardless of whether Vision Nine achieves the minimum contractual growth or more, the DED – and therefore the taxpayer – will save £23m over a 10-year period. By year four, the DED will no longer contribute financially to the operational delivery elements that are passed to Vision Nine
In its report to Tynwald, the department outlines the potential risks and what has been done to mitigate those risks.
For instance, the commercial income and reduced costs predicted by Vision Nine may not materialise. But the DED says a detailed promoter agreement has been drawn up outlining obligations and the costs of delivering these remain with the promoter for the term of the contract, and cannot be passed back to department.
Others risks cited are that Vision Nine could fail financially, not deliver the events or generate the growth required.
The DED says extensive efforts have made to mitigate these risks and Vision Nine is a highly experienced events manager. The agreement includes a provision to exit it early in the event that minimum growth targets are not met. T
Chief Minister Allan Bell said: ‘One of the major challenges facing the DED is maintaining the growth in the TT we are enjoying or stimulating further growth without drawing on scarce government finances when other government departments getting squeezed.
‘The department has put a great deal of work into finding a suitable partner. It will undoubtedly over the passage of time change the face of the TT.’
He said engaging with the private sector would bring a new sense of commercialism to the TT operation and reduce the continuing financial burden on the taxpayers.
There had to be an injection of new investment to expand the event and ‘hopefully maintain the races as a free show’, he said.
Mr Bell said the TT was a in very strong position and thanks to TV coverage awareness of the event was greater than it has even been.
Public sector pension reform and controversial plans to corporatise the Post Office are likely to dominate next week’s Tynwald.
Staff across public services will pay more for their pensions and receive fewer benefits at the end if Tynwald ultimately approves a raft of new measures to address a deficit which currently costs the Manx taxpayer £44.9m a year, rising to £96.4m in 2034/35.
A report entitled Fairness and Sustainability of Public Sector Pensions Schemes, outlines revised proposals to improve the short term cash flow into the Government Unified Scheme and in the long term reduce the ‘cost envelope’ for funding future benefits.
Pension contributions for existing and future members will rise by a further 2.5 per cent of their pay and there will be benefit reductions of 1.8 per cent of pensionable pay.
The long term costs between employees and employers will change from a 25/75 per cent split to a 33/66 per cent split.
But the proposals don’t address the deficit between incomes and expenditure relating to members who have already retired or are set to retire
A second report on addressing this legacy funding gap rules out a range of options including closing current schemes, capping pensions and taxation. Instead, it says the gap is best dealt with through ‘managed allocation of future income growth’.
Proposals to make the Post Office more commercially driven by running it as a state-owned company rather than a statutory board have been recommended in a report to the Council of Ministers by an independent consultant.
Under the plan the company will be wholly-owned by government with Treasury as the sole shareholder.
Chief Minister Allan Bell told the Examiner: ‘Concerns about the long-term viability of the Post Office have been well-versed for quite a number of years.
‘The scope of government report in 2006 strongly recommended corporatisation - not full-scale privatisation - as a way of giving it more commercial freedom to expand its activities in other areas. We have to recognise that the Post Office is not immune from changes taking place to postal services worldwide.’
Student awards regulations also go before Tynwald this month with changes that could open up postgraduate study to more people. At present, students require a 2:1 degree to receive funding but now a 2:2 will be accepted where there’s a proven need for more highly qualified employees in that field. The basis maintenance grants remains at a maximum £4,680 but increases from £115 to £130 a week for London universities.
A corporate investigations team is working flat-out helping companies as the eyes of the world are put on offshore financial centres in the wake of the so-called Panama Papers saga.
Expol, based in Drinkwater Street, Douglas, has never been busier, says director Robert Kinrade.
The company is in its 11th successful year.
Mr Kinrade, a former senior detective in the Manx constabulary, stresses that in his opinion: ‘We as a jurisdiction are in a good place.’
And he believes the island is helping to lead the way in being transparent.
‘I think in the Isle of Man we are that well regulated and we’ve brought in global practcies such as FATCA and MONEYVAL for which there will be visits from inspectors in the coming weeks.’
But he said companies in the island are keen to ensure their businesses are safe and continue to adhere to the highest standards.
Last week as the so-called Panama Papers story took hold Mr Kinrade said two island companies had been in touch to ask for advice from Expol. The Panama Papers are a leaked set of 11.5 million confidential documents that provide detailed information about offshore companies listed by the Panamanian corporate service provider Mossack Fonseca, including the identities of shareholders and directors of the companies.
The documents show how wealthy individuals, including public officials, hide their money from public scrutiny.
‘As a professional team I would hope we can offer good advice,’ said Mr Kinrade.
‘We will review their security systems, their online security and assisting and ensuring all is in place to prevent anything happening, the likes of anti money laundering, and looking at enhanced due diligence for them, using online and conventional methods of investigation.
‘Our medium term approach is to develop more pro-active and specific training courses for delivery to CSPs and to other organisations in the island.’
Mr Kinrade said the company was developing more specialised courses to help the likes of Isle of Man CSPs [corporate service providers] and ensuring their anti money laundering procedures are in place.
Mr Kinrade added that a company in the eGaming sector had also brought in Expol some months ago to help them prepare for MONEYVAL.
The island will be assessed under MONEYVAL’s fifth round of evaluations soon.
Mr Kinrade said that such is the eGaming company’s attention to detail that it asked Expol to come in and ‘dip sample’ files to ensure that intergrity, confidentiality and all procedures were being followed correctly.
‘This is how companies are approaching their own security and preparation for the likes of MONEYVAL.’
Mr Kinrade said the Expol team have been at their busiest in recent months carrying out investigations that have included contacts with associates in many countries.
The company has also been extending its range of training courses for businesses.
Mr Kinrade said: ‘The short tem approach we are adopting is reacting to inquiries for assistance in light of Mossack Fonseca and any fallout from that on current procedures.’
Mr Kinrade said a lot of Expol’s work was involved in asset tracing on individuals, along with due diligence, both online and physical work in other countries. ‘We have a global network of like minded partners. We can pick up the phone or email somebody in most places of the world now.
‘Such is the breadth of our experience over 10 years as corporate investigators.’
THERE is still a lot of discussion going on about what the future is for the Douglas horse trams.
Well, I think in the first place that they should stay where they have always been, long before motor cars were even invented.
After this the tram drivers and conductors should go back to wearing their old navy blue military uniforms with shiny peaked caps and be equipped with their original leather bags of change and ticket issuing machines.
After all people on holiday like to visit museums and the horse trams are one of the most definitive living museums in the world.
Of course more would have to be done to complete the historical picture.
Car parking on the seafront of Loch Promenade would have to be banned.
This would mean drivers wishing to go to the shops in downtown Douglas having to park in the multi-storey car park in Chester Street, which is nearly empty for most of the time.
The drivers would have to pay to do this. But it would reduce the losses on running the trams.
We are now, however, in the 21st century. The trams will have to be an equal opportunity employer. Women should be encouraged work on them as well as well as men.
I can recall seeing only one woman driving a tram. Have there been any others?
LAST week I looked ahead to the forthcoming population census in the Isle of Man.
This week I have the following from my old Douglas High School classmate D.Q. Quirk, otherwise known as Deek:
‘The last time I lost the form completely and the Gestapo descended on me with a vengeance.
‘I pleaded that I had lost my senses (I can’t spell). By the time I found it it had been under so much paper and books it had gone hard like papyrus.
‘Like you I am suspicious of a 13 digit UNIQUE online access code.
‘It hints that I should sign myself Hugh Neak, not Deek. As for your modern hand-held ball-point pen, I have to plead Peel Clothworkers School so will still be happy to use a split nib with wooden handle – you dip the nib in the little inkwell as long as the ink monitor has remembered to come round.
‘Best wishes. Those were the good old days.’
NO crossword clues this week.
THE Manx Independent reported last week that the implacably implausible Jeremy Corbyn wants to impose direct rule on the Isle of Man.
If you’re not careful we’ll set Bernie Moffatt on you Jerry.
ANDREW Kerr-Phillips tells me he tried to find a picture of the de-railed tram car on Snaefell but, he says: ‘It was off-line.’
FRANK Bond, concerned about my fruitless search for a mobile phone that does nothing more than make and receive telephone calls. suggests I try a good toy shop.
That’s where he got his first mobile phone when he was a small boy. All it takes to make and receive calls is a childish imagination. It was called Bruin and he has had it since he was three.
Do you want to sell it Frank?
SARA Goodwins reports a sign at Laxey MER station saying: ‘The toilets at the Summit Hotel are out of order. We apologise for the inconvenience.’
No, it’s an outconvenience.
FUNNIES File: In 1989 Mr Colin Leather was re-elected chairman of Castletown Commissioners. The Examiner headline was: ‘Leather back in chair.’
WORLD HEADLINE: ‘War dims hope for peace...’
Well, yes...
We’re well and truly into local authority election season now, and candidates will be gearing themselves up to canvass for your votes.
With this in mind, IoMFoE has produced some suggestions to encourage them to consider the long term impact of their policies.
We’re hoping people will ask them for their positions on these issues, not just for the sake of the environment, but also for social and economic reasons.
A key issue is recycling. We believe that there should be kerbside collections for all possible waste streams.
The more authorities which do this, the greater the economies of scale – and the more cost-effective it’ll become.
Although there are good ‘bring bank’ facilities, these rely on public co-operation.
Kerbside collections remove some hurdles; Braddan, Douglas and Port St Mary are great examples.
Recycling helps reduce CO2 emissions, cuts the amount of waste incinerated and conserves scarce resources.
The standard of insulation in many older properties is poor, especially in the rented sector. We’d like this improved.
Fuel poverty is a very real issue, exacerbated by tariff changes for electricity and gas.
We believe authorities should do all they can to help tenants achieve better home insulation, to help to bring down heating bills and stay acceptably warm.
We also support micro-renewable generation (wind, solar photovoltaic and other resources), and solar hot water systems being fitted to new and existing housing.
We need a better co-ordinated transport system in order to reduce CO2 from vehicles, and to reduce air pollution.
Action is also needed to encourage people to walk and cycle. Apart from helping to reduce pollution, this improves physical and mental wellbeing – which itself has a beneficial impact on the NHS.
IoMFoE would like a network of safe cycling routes, to encourage local cycle use and eco-tourism – plus more secure cycle parking.
Electric vehicle charging points should be installed in all public car parks. Port Erin Commissioners recently bought a 100 per cent electric van and intend, whenever vehicles need replacing, to consider electrical variants – great! Rapid chargers would also enhance the current charging structure.
Our natural environment isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity that underpins the wellbeing of everyone, and in many ways also our economy.
We rely on clean air to breathe, water to drink and bathe in, and the land and sea to provide food as well as recreational opportunities.
When we allow environmental degradation, we suffer consequences.
Barbara Dian Skelton and Samuel Neil Skelton, both of Turnberry Avenue, Onchan, bought Balla Maria, Bay View Road, Port St Mary, for £800,000.
It was bought from Richard Graham Stockman and Fiona Deanne Stockman.
Other recent transactions lodged at the General Registry in Douglas are as follows:
Robert Edward Griffin and Orla Mary Griffin sold 115 Cronk Liauyr, Douglas, for £687,000, to Dean Stearn and Patricia Stearn, of 51 Palatine Road, Douglas.
John Desmond Collins, of The Netloft, Mariner’s Wharf, East Quay, Peel, sold Grange Villa, Belmont Road, Douglas, for £455,000, to Daniel Smith and Heather Anne Dale, both of 42 Watterson Lane, Willaston, and Adam John Usher Harrison and Shelly Janet Louise Travis, both of 39 Harcroft Avenue, New Castletown Road, Douglas.
Gordon James Wilson and Evelyn Margaret Wilson sold 20 Ennerdale Avenue, Onchan, for £410,000 to Russell Quayle and Victoria Ann Burnham, both of 6 Mountfield Road, Onchan.
Linda Hilton, of Southerndown, Ballagale Close, Surby, sold The Nock, Ballagale, Surby, for £380,000, to Richard Alan Lindsey Birchall and Geraldine Anne Lindsey Birchall, of 21 Stabley Mews, Governors Hill, Douglas.
Dean Stearn and Patricia Mary Stearn sold 51 Palatine Road, Douglas, for £291,000 to Robert Edward Griffin and Orla Mary Griffin, of 116 Cronk Liauyr, Tromode.
John Fenton and Lorraine May Fenton sold Clajan, Ballafesson Road, Port Erin, for £285,000, to Ian William Wiltshire and Katherine Janet Wiltshire.
Roy Stephenson, care of 3rd Floor, St Mary’s Court, Hill Street, Douglas, sold 12 Peveril Terrace, Douglas, for £85,000 to Denise Dowling, of 18 Highcroft Avenue, Douglas.
Anthony John Hall and Christina Joy Hall sold 1 Ashbourne Avenue, Douglas, for £250,000 to Jennifer Ann McParlin, of 55 Derby Rd, Douglas.
David Radcliffe Gorry, of 1 Albany Close, Peel, and Philip Lawrence Gorry, 4 Rectory Cottages, Andreas, and Hilary Harrison, of Lytham St Annes, and Linda Quilliam, sold Boayl Dooin, 16 Queen’s Drive, Peel, to Helen Ann Dickinson, for £245,000, of 3 Ballaquane Avenue, Peel.
Freya Sally Katrina Slade sold 7 Claughbane Avenue, Ramsey, for £215,000, to Grace Ethel Mary Easthope, of Wesley Manse, Atholl Street, Peel.
Andrew Kevin Cosgrave, of 12 Church Close, Lonan, and Christopher Michael Cosgrave, of Sea View, Ballaragh, Lonan, sold 23 Sartfell Road, Douglas, for £200,000, to Monica Gerrard.
Stella Christina Crellin, of Ballacondra Cottage, Bride, sold Stella Maris, abutting Burnt Mill Hill and Summer Hill, Douglas, for £187,000, to Graham Davies, of 27 King Edward Close, Onchan.
We publish details of all house sales unless we get a written request from the police or probation services.
John McGuinness, Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson will lead a host of top name competitors at the 2016 TT launch this evening (Thursday) at the Villa Marina.
Many of the burning pre-season road racing questions will start to get answered at the launch, hosted by TV commentators James Whitham and Steve Parrish.
The presenters will be taking questions from the public via the TT’s official Twitter account (@iom_TT) while fans can follow the event worldwide with the chat show streamed live on the TT’s official YouTube channel.
A number of riders are with new teams and manufacturers this year, notably Hutchy who has switched to the TAS Racing BMW team with whom he made a good debut in the first round of the British Superstock series last weekend at Silverstone.
Also favouring BMW is Michael Dunlop who will again race for Stuart Hicken’s Hawk Racing outfit.
McGuinness, Conor Cummins and Steve Mercer were forced to retire from the Le Mans 24-hour World Endurance event at the weekend on the Jackson Racing Honda, but John and Conor will line-up together for the third successive TT as Honda Racing team-mate this year.
Also in the island for this evening’s launch is Penz13.com’s Gary Johnson and Dean Harrison, now with the Silicone Engineering team, while the latter’s Sarolea TT Zero team-mate Lee Johnston remains at East Coast Construction for the conventional classes.
James Hillier remains with Quattro Plant Kawasaki, while rising start Peter Hickman will also be Kawasaki is to represent the GBMoto outfit.
William Dunlop, Ivan Lintin and Ozzy David Johnson will be talking about the Norton challenge that he’ll be spearheading.
Veteran campaigner Ian Lougher is back to the TT proper after a two-year absence on the Swiss-built Suter Racing 500 two-stroke for the Senior, while arch-rival Ryan Farquhar has switched to the Tyco BMW team. Michael Rutter will also be on a BMW, backed by Bathams.
Dave Molyneux is back with fellow Manxman Dan Sayle for the TT. They made their racing return together at Le Mans last Saturday where they had to settle for fifth in the inaugural F2 World Trophy round after suffering a slow puncture in the chair wheel that caused them to have several spins.
They will be joined on stage at the Villa by 2015 double race winners Ben and Tom Birchall, Tim Reeves/Patrick Farrance, John Holden and the back from injuryAndy Winkle and Conrad Harrison with new passenger Dean Kilkenney.
High-profile TT newcomers will be introduced for the first time. Former World Superbike rider Alex Polita, a former European Superstock Champion, is travelling over from Italy for the evening, while British Supersport podium regular Ben Wilson will be revealing his thoughts on his up-coming TT debut.
Doors open at 7pm with tickets priced at £5 available from the Villa Marina box office and at www.villagaiety.com
Chief Minister Allan Bell has signed a deal with the UK to speed up the supply of information on the real ownership of companies.
Under the agreement the Isle of Man has committed to establishing and maintaining a central electronic register of information that will allow accurate and current information to be provided to law enforcement and tax authorities as quickly as within one hour in urgent cases.
The signing took place in London on Tuesday between Mr Bell MHK and the Financial Secretary to the UK Treasury David Gauke MP.
While the deal is the result of long and sustained discussions, the signing of the exchange of letters comes a day after David Cameron made a statement in the House of Commons in the wake of the Panama Papers leak.
He told MPs: ‘For the first time, UK police and law enforcement will be able to see exactly who really owns and controls every company incorporated in these territories. Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Isle of Man, Jersey – the lot.’
In fact, the Isle of Man has led the way on tax information exchange and in 2011 became one of the first small jurisdictions to introduce automatic exchange on information relating to personal savings income. Under the FATCA-style deal signed in 2013, disclosure was extended to include companies and trusts as from this year.
The Chief Minister welcomed the agreement: ‘The Isle of Man has a strong track record of compliance with international standards and has continued to work with the UK to help set an example for a global solution to tackling corruption, money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious and organised crime.
‘A truly global approach to tax transparency and information sharing is needed and the Isle of Man is committed to playing its part in efforts to achieve meaningful progress.’
While Mr Bell has signed up to central register on beneficial ownership, he says making the register public is a red line which he will not cross.
The Panama Papers, an unprecedented leak of 11.5 million confidential documents, have lifted the lid on how the global elite, including public officials, hide their money from public scrutiny.
They provide detailed information about offshore companies listed by the Panamanian corporate service provider Mossack Fonseca, including the identities of shareholders and directors of the companies.
People in the island will have a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to see and be pictured with the impressive Davis Cup Trophy up close and personal when it visits the Isle of Man on Sunda, April 24.
Following the historic win by the British Davis Cup Team last November, the first time in 79 years, the Lawn Tennis Association has announced the launch of the Davis Cup Trophy Tour across Britain.
The Trophy will be displayed at Douglas Lawn Tennis Club on Kensington Road between 9am and 5pm. Douglas LTC will also be running a number of events free for all to attend.
To mark the event an inter club Davis Cup style competition will be held in the morning. Teams from local clubs will compete in both singles and doubles.
The afternoon will take the form of an open day where the public can have a go at playing tennis between 2pm and 5pm. LTA coaches will be involved in running taster coaching sessions for adults and children as well as some fun tennis related activities, including finding the fastest serve.
Douglas Lawn Tennis Club alongside Ramsey Tennis Club were also selected to deliver an LTA free six-week Tennis for Kids course as part of the Davis Cup Legacy programme.
Tania Thomas, Isle of Man LTA Davis Cup Legacy coordinator and Douglas LTC Secretary, said: ‘We are thrilled to have been chosen to be a part of this very special Davis Cup Trophy Tour.
‘What a great way to celebrate Davis Cup victory and to thank all the supporters and volunteers! We are delighted to be working with LTA to inspire more people to pick up the racket and even come to love the sport for life.’
Five backbench MHKs have joined forces to express their disquiet over proposed public sector pension reforms.
The proposals, which will be the focus of a key debate in Tynwald next week, would see staff across the public services paying up to 50 per cent more in pensions contributions for reduced future benefits.
But five MHKs - Alfred Cannan (Michael), Ralph Peake and John Houghton (Douglas North), Leonard Singer (Ramsey) and Graham Cregeen (Malew and Santon) - say the plans are flawed and would expose the taxpayer to unacceptable levels of financial risk.
In a letter to iomtoday they write: ‘The key challenge of dealing with the rising liabilities of Public Sector Pension schemes remains at the core of the government’s battle to sort out its ongoing fiscal deficit.
‘Whilst we welcome the efforts that are being made to deliver a solution to the £3bn deficit we must make clear our opposition to the latest proposals which ask the taxpayer to sustain an increase in pension payments from £44m in this financial year to over £100m in the next six years.
‘The current set of proposals will do little to quell the growing sense of pension apartheid that is slowly dividing society. Not only that, but the proposals, based largely on growth in government revenues, present significant risks in the event of slow or negative economic growth.’
The five MHKs say the latest proposals pay ‘scant attention’ to more sustainable and fair options, including closing the schemes to new entrants.
They say: ‘Closing the schemes to new entrants and “debt managing” the liabilities may be one option that will lead to a better outcome for our island.
‘The current proposals are flawed and should not be accepted. This is a bad deal for the employees, a bad deal for government departments and most certainly a bad deal for the taxpayer. With an election looming, the public should be entitled to have their say at the ballot box.’
Current government funding is £89.29m which is made up of £44.4m from revenue - the taxpayer - plus £44.89m from the Public Sector Pensions Reserve.
But the Reserve is being drawn down until it is empty by 2023-24 and so the impact on the taxpayer increases every year from £44.4m to £115.02m in seven years’ time and to £155.94m by 2034.
Mr Cannan told iom today that this was not an attempt to kick pension reform down the street until after the general election.
Meanwhile the Prospect union is lobbying Tynwald members ahead of the key vote, urging them not to rush a decision but negotiate a sustainable solution which ‘restores trust and credibility’.
Angela Moffatt, negotiations officer, said: ‘There’s a crisis of confidence. The bulk of our members are earning under the national average wage, and over a third earn under £20K a year. They are being priced out of a pension.
‘I think we are sticking our heads in the sand, if we think that this problem is not going to continue, and indeed get worse.’
The Cabinet Office accepts that the proposed reforms will do nothing to address the ‘legacy’ funding gap relating to members who have already retired.
Its report rules out closing the current scheme to new members as this would require significant extra funding from government.